System and method for digital tooth imaging

Abstract

Method and system for managing multiple impressions of a patient's jaw for an orthodontic treatment are provided. The method includes scanning at least a first impression and a second impression of the same jaw for the orthodontic treatment; determining if the first jaw impression and the second jaw impression have distortion in different areas; selecting the first jaw impression or the second jaw impression as a base impression; and replacing distorted tooth data from the base impression with data for the same tooth from a non-base impression. The method also includes scanning at least a first jaw impression for the orthodontic treatment; scanning a bite impression for the orthodontic treatment; matching the scanned first jaw impression with the scanned bite impression; comparing bite information with a tooth occlusal surface; and determining if reconstruction is to be performed on the tooth occlusal surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of treating a patient's dentition, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving first and second impressions of a first arch of a patient's dentition; 
 (b) scanning the first impression to create a first digital image of the first impression of the first arch of the patient's dentition; 
 (c) scanning the second impression to create a second digital image of the second impression of the same first arch of the patient's dentition; 
 (d) choosing one of the first and second digital images as a selected image and the other of the first and second digital images as a non-selected image; 
 (e) determining whether image data from the non-selected image is to be used to reconstruct the selected image; 
 (f) reconstructing the selected image data using the non-selected image if the image data from the non-selected image are determined to be used to reconstruct the selected image; 
 (g) creating a treatment plan for the patient's dentition using the selected image; and 
 (h) fabricating a set of dental alignment devices configured to implement the treatment plan when the dental alignment devices in the set of dental alignment devices are sequentially worn on the patient's dentition. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of choosing includes the steps of:
 (d)(1) determining if one of the first and second digital images includes distorted or incomplete image data; and 
 (d)(2) if one of the first and second digital images includes distorted or incomplete image data, choosing the other of the first and second digital images as the selected image. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of choosing further includes the step of:
 (d)(3) if both of the first and second digital images include distorted or incomplete image data, choosing either one of the first and second digital images as the selected image. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of choosing further includes the step of:
 (d)(4) if neither of the first and second digital images includes distorted or incomplete image data, choosing either one of the first and second digital images as the selected image. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fabrication step includes the step of fabricating a set of incremental tooth position adjustment appliances.